Steam-generating explosion-engine.



No. smss. Patented Apr. 2, I90l. L. RENAULT;

STEAM GENERATING EXPLOSION ENGINE.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1900.]

(No Model.)

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LOUIS RENAULT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

STEAM-G EN ERATING EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,236, dated April 2,1901.

Application filed February 26, 1960. 8erial No. 6,585. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS RENAULT, mechanical engineer, a citizen of theRepublic of France, residing at 14 Place de Laborde, Paris, France, haveinvented new and useful improvements relating to explosion-engines andto the utilization of the heat and products of combustion therefrom forthe generation of gases or vapors, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists of an autogenerating apparatus for gases andsteamthat is to say, an apparatus by means of which it is possible toobtain without the use of either a compressor or a burner a mixture ofheated gases from the cylinder of an explosion-motor and of steamproduced by utilizing the heat obtained on the one hand from the wall ofthe cylinder and on the other hand from the heated gases which escapetherefrom and of which a portion is made to circulate in contact withthe free surface of the mass of water to be vaporized, the said mixturebeing intended to be employed in a motor, steamturbine of any kind, orother apparatus in place of steam produced by an ordinarysteamgenerator.

An autogenerating apparatus of my system is illustrated, by way ofexample, in axial longitudinal section in the accompanying drawing. 1

Aform of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention comprisesa vertical cylinder at, in which reciprocates a piston 19, connected, bymeans of a connecting-rod, to

two crank-disks c c, which are rigidly fixed upon a shaft d, provided atone end with a starting-handle e and at the other end with a pinion f,engaging a second pinion g of twice the diameter of the former. Thislarge pin- .ion is rigidly connected with a cam h for actuating theexhaust-valve i, in proximity to which are arranged the suctiomvalve jand an electric igniting device it, by means of which an electric sparkmay be produced into the cylinder end 1.

Above the cylinder at is a central valve "In, the rod of which isprovided with a compensating piston n, which valve is maintained closedby means of a spring 0, the pressure of which may be adjusted by meansof a nut 19. Within the intermediate jacket q of the cylinder, which ispartially filled withwater, is fixed .at its upper portion anexpansion-rod r, provided with a valve 3. The annular space 25, aroundthe cylinder, communicating with the cylinder end or chamber l by meansof the valve i, serves as an exhaust-chamber, and the cylinder issupplied through a suitable pipe 16 either with illuminating-gas or withgas from a carbureter. The arrangement also comprises a pipe 2;,permitting of the exhaustion of the burned gases, a tube w, throughwhich water is supplied to the jacket q, and a pipe as for conductingthe mixture of expanded gases and steam to the apparatus in which it isintended to be utilized.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the piston b to be at the upperextremity of its stroke and the handle 6 to be then rotated, the pistonin descending draws into the cylinder a a certain quantity ofcombustible gas coming from the inlet-pipe u and passing through thevalve j, which opens under the influence of the vacuum produced by thesaid piston. This latter in again rising compresses the explosivemixture in the cylinder end Z, and the said mixture is prevented fromescaping through the central valve m by the spring 0, which is soadjusted as to permit of the opening of the valve on only under theinfluence of a pressure greater than that of the maximum compression. Assoon as the piston 17 has again reached the upper extremity of itsstroke a spark is produced by the electric igniting device 70, causingthe explosion of the gas, accompanied by an increase of pressuresufficient to cause the valve m to rise and permit a portion of theburned gases to escape into the annular space g. This explosion at thesame time exerts upon the piston 19 a force which starts the motor andenables it, owing to the momentum acquired by the fly-wheels c c, tocontinue to rotate in order to complete the cycle. When the piston 17reaches the bottom of the cylinder a, the exhaust-valve 2' opens and theexcess of the burned gases passes into the annular space if in order toescape into the open air through the outlet-pipe Q). The piston Z) risesowing to the velocity acquired by the fly-wheels c c, the exhaust-valve2' remaining open until the termination of the ascending stroke of thepiston, after which this latter again descends, producing a freshsuction of gas through the valve 3', the cycle of four phases beingreproduced indefinitely. The volume of the cylinder end Z and thestrength of the spring 0 acting on the central valve m are calculated insuch a manner as to leave a sufficient pressure in the said cylinderend, and consequently upon the piston 17, in order to permit the latterto compress a fresh quantity of gas, so as to complete the cycle. Thesmall piston 02, the upper face of which is in communication with theatmosphere by means of a passage .2, serves to counteract the pressureproduced in the chamber g by the gases which have escaped through thecentral valve m during the preceding explosions, which pressure tends tomaintain the said valve closed. The heating of the cylinder a and thecirculation of the hot gases in the space q convert into steam the Watercontained in the space or jacket q, the effect of which is to lower thetemperature of the gases and increase their volume. The hot gases escapethrough the valve 2', circulate in the jacket 25, and heat the Water tobe vaporized, thus still further increasing the efficiency of theapparatus. The mixture of expanded gases and steam thus obtained escapesthrough the pipe x, whereby it is conducted to to the apparatus in whichit is intended to be utilized. The water contained in thejacketq isrenewed through the pipe w, the fiow through which is regulated by meansof the expansionrod 1". If the temperature rises in the said jacket,this rod 'rlengthens, the valve 5 opens, and a certain quantity of wateris introduced. The temperature then falling, the rod 1* becomesshortenedand the valve 5 again closes. The introduction of the water may beeffected by means ot'a pump actuated by the shaft of the motor andprovided with an exhaust-valve arranged in the force-pipe and enablingthe water to be returned to the trough when the valve 8 is closed. Theadjustment of the rod 0" is effected by means of a screw-thread and of anut provided at its upper extremity.

The igniter may be of any suitable construction.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. An engine provided with a casing normally closed atthe bottom and adapted to contain a liquid, a valve controlling theadmission of the liquid into the casing, a heatsensitive membercontrolling the valve and extending into the liquid-receiving part ofthe casing so as to be in contact with the liquid contained therein, anda connection from the exhaust from the engine to the upper portion ofsaid casing.

2. An engine having a casing forming a Water-jacket around the cylinder,another casing surrounding the first-named casing and formingaheating-chamber,a connection from the cylinder-exhaust to saidheating-chamber, an outlet for the escape of the exhaust from theheating-chamber, and an outlet for the escape of the steam formed in thewaterjacket.

3. An engine having a casing forming a Water-jacket around thecylinder,another casing surrounding the first-named casing and forming aheating-chamber,a connection from the cylinder to lead the exhaust intosaid heating-chamber, a second connection from the cylinder to conduct aportion of the heated driving medium into the Water-jacket and outletsfor the escape of the exhaust from the water-jacket and from theheating-chamber respectively.

4. An explosive-engine having a cylinder With a working chamber providedwith an exhaust-port and with a valved supplementary outlet located inthe cylinder-head,a casing surrounding the cylinder and forming a jacketadapted to contain liquid, a connection from the supplementary outlet tosaid jacket, a valve controlling the admission of liquid into saidcasing,a heat-sensitive member controlling said valve and extending intothe jacket so as to be in contact, with the liquid contained therein,and another casing surrounding the jacket and forming a heatingchamberconnected with the exhaust-port of the cylinder.

5. An explosive-engine having a cylinder with a working chamber providedwith an exhaust-port and with a valved supplementary outlet located inthe cylinder-head, a casing surrounding the cylinder and forming ajacket adapted to contain liquid,a connection from the supplementaryoutlet to said jacket, and another casing surrounding the jacket andforming a heating-chamber connected with the exhaust-port of thecylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS RENAULT.

Witnesses:

GEORGES DELOM, EDWARD P. MACLEAN.

